Chapter XXV

We can now understand the meaning of havein beChochmah (“understand through wisdom”) and chacham beBinah (“become wise through understanding”). Havein beChochmah refers to the inclusion of Binah within Chochmah , enabling Chochmah to [develop a concept to the level of] comprehension and understanding. Even though [the essential nature of Chochmah] is bittul and non-expansion hence only a point nevertheless, it can be expanded and understood through Binah.

Chacham beBinah refers to the inclusion of Chochmah within Binah. Even though [the nature of] Binah is amplification, involving a multitude of details and explanations, it nevertheless possesses the power of Chochmah , which transforms yesh into ayin : the result of the entire [process of logic and] understanding is gathered into its [single, conclusive] “point of summarization” (nekudas hatamtzis).1 This entails the negation of all individual details and explanations, and culminates in a grasping of the essential intellectual matter; the essence of the concept becomes a single point, which became understood through the many details and explanations. [Whereas the point of Chochmah represents the concept before it is analyzed, the point within Binah is the result of the analytical process.] This matter is discussed in other places.

[It has been previously mentioned that] the yud has two protrusions in addition to the body of the letter itself. The lower protrusion represents havein beChochmah ,2 the tendency of Chochmah towards Binah. Generally speaking, they [the three levels of the yud] refer to the levels of Keser , Chochmah and Binah , insofar as they exist within Chochmah. The upper protrusion represents the Keser of Chochmah. This is the point without the form of a letter, as mentioned previously. The body of the yud , its breadth, represents the level of the “Chochmah within Chochmah ,” the point of Chochmah as it can be contained within revealed intellect, at least in a defined form. The lower protrusion is the “Binah of Chochmah ,” which is the power to conduct the point of Chochmah to the expanded state of Binah through comprehension and understanding.

(It could be argued that Chacham beBinah is represented by the yud3 which forms the left leg of the letter hei. This represents, perhaps, the “point of summarization” which follows one’s understanding in “length and breadth” [represented by the vertical and horizontal lines of the right side of the hei]. Another possibility:4 When one writes the hei of the name Havayah , one first writes a yud and then extends it to form the roof of the letter. It is possible that this yud represents chacham beBinah.)

Summary:
Havein beChochmah is the tendency of Chochmah towards amplified understanding. Chacham beBinah is the tendency of Binah towards being included in the “point of summarization.” The two protrusions and the body of the yud represent respectively the Keser , and the levels of Chochmah and Binah that are to be found within Chochmah. (Chacham beBinah is depicted in the form of the hei.)